Free Healing Touch: Play Doctor, Book 2 by Jayne Rylon Page B

possible.”
    “Okay, Brielle, I understand. I guess I’ll see you Saturday then.” Disappointment reverberated in his voice.
    She could relate. Suddenly, she felt like Cinderella longing to attend the ball. Except she already knew that’s where her prince would be. In his world. A million miles from hers. And he deserved a princess on his arm.
    “Right.” A week had never seemed so long.
    “Will you call me before then?” He seemed uncertain for the first time.
    Damn, she was screwing this all up. “I didn’t want to bother you with my drama.”
    “Brielle.” The steel in his tone melted almost instantly with the hiss of air he exhaled. “I’m not your ex. Or your father. I’m interested in you. All of you. If you want to call and talk about nothing, that’s great. If you need to talk about something, I’d be honored if you picked me to listen.”
    “You’re going to be sorry you said that at two in the morning.” She dropped her head to her forearm on her desk, cradling the phone between her neck and ear.
    “Having trouble sleeping?” His concern caressed her through the phone.
    “I can fall asleep. I just can’t stay that way.” She lowered her voice so no one would overhear her weakness. “Nightmares. But I’ve been using the technique you taught me to calm myself afterward. It works. Most times I can squeeze in a nap before my alarm goes off.”
    “Damn, Brielle.” He muttered something she couldn’t understand. “You shouldn’t have to go through that alone. You have my number. Use it. Let me help.”
    “We’ll see.” She didn’t plan to drag him through her muck.
    “Holy crap, you’re stubborn.” He laughed softly. “What does it say about me that I like that?”
    “Someone once told me that being normal means being messed up.” She grinned.
    “Very true. Wise man.” He groaned. “Sorry, Brielle. I have to go. My admin is shooting me a death-ray glare for being late to this meeting.”
    “Of course. And it’s not like you can pretend to be oblivious with all that glass.” His crystal cavern probably bustled with activity today. She should have realized how busy he was. Taking up his time in the middle of the day… Well, he’d called her, hadn’t he? “Have a good day. Thanks again for the flowers.”
    “My pleasure. Truly.” He sighed. “Saturday is a long time from now, isn’t it?”
    “An eternity.”
    “Call me?” Papers shuffled in the background.
    “Maybe.” She couldn’t help but smile at his exasperated growl.
    “Complex woman,” he moaned. “Later.”
    “Get back to work, Luke. You’re late, remember?” She hung up to the sound of his laughter.
    And every time she looked at his flowers, she smiled right back.

Chapter Six
    Brielle wondered how long it would be before one of her neighbors complained about her screaming in the middle of the night. She clutched her chest, willing the pounding of her heart to steady some. “I’m okay. I’m safe here. I’m okay.”
    Her eyes fluttered closed as she repeated the mantra. It seemed that each night she recovered faster from the terrifying visions that haunted her dreams. A mental picture of Luke, holding her hand and promising to keep her safe, didn’t hurt.
    Talking to him earlier had only made her craving for him stronger. The taste hadn’t staved off her hunger. Before she could second-guess herself, she jammed her hand beneath her pillow and retrieved his card—a bit worse for wear since she’d slept on it a few times.
    After lunging for her phone, she typed in the digits she’d pretty much memorized anyway. He answered on the first ring, and barely into that, spurring her to assume maybe it was an automated message service instead of his personal line. Damn.
    “Shit. Are you pissed? I didn’t think you’d be able to see me.”
    “Luke?” She canted her head, trying to make sense of his rambling with the dregs of panic still settling around her.
    “Yeah. It’s me, sweetheart,” he